Latvia can be proud of its beautiful coast and dunes at the Baltic Sea shore. The diversity of natural habitats is a uni
International Conference on “Sustainable Development Goals: To Raise Public Awareness in building sustainable communities around the Baltic Sea” Jūrmala, Latvia, September 26 – 27, 2017
Summary Report 1. Background Latvia can be proud of its beautiful coast and dunes at the Baltic Sea shore. The diversity of natural habitats is a unique value of this region and part of Europe. The cultural heritage of coastal communities has been recognized as a value by the UNESCO. Since regaining of Latvia’s independence both nature and culture uniqueness of the coast has been continuously endangered due to the insufficient state control and implementation of legislation on protection of natural habitats and preventing violations against the nature. On the other hand a serious problem is also low level of environmental awareness of the general public and the lack of suitable and modern tourism infrastructure sites along the coast of Latvia. We face uncontrolled flow of visitors in the summers that damage ecosystems of dunes, lack of informative signs along the main roads of Latvian coast and insufficient infrastructure for visitors and tourists of the coastal dune areas. By improving the coastal tourism infrastructure we protect the nature and provide opportunities for the small local businesses. This is the importance of the social - economical aspect of the project.
2. Goal Cooperation and experience exchange is one of tools to address the problem and the Conference was the forum where to meet and change views and information. The aim of the conference was to bring together a group of well-placed international and Latvian practitioners, local municipality and state institution representatives, policy makers, journalists and NGOs operating in the field of Baltic Sea Region and working with Sustainability, Tourism, Economy and Regional Identity issues.
3. Concept In 2015, countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. During the conference we discussed topics covering three of the goals: Goal 11 - Make cities inclusive and Sustainable and support links between urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning, Goal 14 - Careful management of oceans, seas and marines resources, Goal 17 - Inclusive partnerships built upon principles and values. Two themes formed the conference structure. The key speakers, panel discussions and
World Café debates addressed the main topics - questions: - Regional identity, public awareness and nature values for promotion of Sustainable Development of the Baltic Sea region; - Tourism infrastructure solutions – to save the nature, provide access and promote the local economy growth at the Coast of Baltic Sea.
1 Supported by:
The objectives of the Conference were focused also to promote functioning of Natura 2000 network and integration of principles of integrated coastal zone management into planning of economic and social activities along the coastal line. Therefore the issue of efficient implementation of nature protection system using the modern infrastructure as a tool in the coastal areas of Latvia is crucial for sustainable development of the whole Baltic Sea region.
4. Target groups and participants The aim of the conference was to bring together a group of well-placed international and Latvian practitioners, local municipality and state institution representatives, policy makers, journalists and NGOs operating in the field of Baltic Sea Region and working with Sustainability, Tourism, Economy and Regional Identity issues. We invited high level professionals and experts, like Dr. Frank Weichbrodt, representing the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Dr. Elmar Römpczyk, expert in Sustainability issues and former FES-Baltic director, Peter Tȍrkler, Managing Director of the Baltic Sea Conservation Foundation from Germany, Dr. Ingela Isaksson, Regional coordinator marine spatial planning MSP Kattegatt and Skagerrak, County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland, Planning and building department, Mikhail Durkin, Executive Director of Coalition Clean Baltic from Sweden and Latvian experts - Ilona Mendziņa, Deputy Director of Nature protection department of
the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia and Gunta Lukstiņa, Advisor of Development and planning at Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments. Accessibility issues were covered by two Universal design experts from Russia and Latvia – Svetlana Nigmatulina from Kaliningrad and NGO “Aura” and Jurģis Briedis from NGO “Aperions”. Co-operation partners in this Conference were local coastal governments, the Ministry of Environment and Regional Development and Swedish Embassy in Riga. Active support to our Conference was received from Jūrmala City Council and Roja municipality. We had more then 100 participants from 7 Baltic Regional Countries and representatives from Belarus and Ukraine. Participation from Ukraine and Belarus was covered by DEAR project.
5. Results The experts and participants were sharing innovative, promising and evidence-based practical and theoretical insights and lessons from around the Baltic Sea region. Our countries have a long-standing interest in environment, saving the Baltic Sea and sustainable development of our Coastal lines. That is our common interest. This International Conference was a learning conference with a study visit to two sites of coastal areas – Kolka and Roja Municipality. In Kolka all the study visit participants walked through the Pine Trail and visited Kolka Cape to evaluate the accessibility of the nature sites. In Roja community we all visited one of the first nature accessibility pilot project – Roja public Beach infrastructure. Participants of the conference were encouraged to participate in conversations and active discussions, using World café method, that resulted in new approaches having a direct and indirect influence on the situation in the region, experience exchange and new ideas how to cooperate to improve our coastal economy and nature protection. It was decided to work on fund-rising for study visit to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, for experience exchange on Coastal protection solutions.
2 Supported by:
6. Evaluation At the conference we discussed the region’s sustainable development solutions in coastal areas to provide both nature protection and accessibility by building and renovating tourism infrastructure in the coastal dune areas. To reach common understanding and develop criteria’s with future certification of such sustainable tourism infrastructure sites as the result, Latvian Green Movement together with the Association of disabled people and their friends Apeirons have started monitoring of the coastal tourism infrastructure objects in Latvian coast in order to advise and propose solutions for green and accessible tourism thus benefiting and developing the local economy and small businesses. We plan to introduce a new Certificate Nature Accessible – NaAc. In frame of the Campaign, we have planned to carry out a number of different projects in order to start series of practical awareness raising public activities for the saving of coastal dunes. As the next key activities of the Campaign (2018 – 2020) will include: 1. Experience exchange with foreign partners in Study visits (next year German Baltic Coast); 2. Yearly organized joint clean-up works along the Latvian coastal strip every last Saturday of May as a tradition; 3. Producing number of different information materials and signs; 4. Developing a new Certificate - Nature Accessible; 5. Improving and renewing 7 to 12 Coastal parking sites in dune areas according to criteria’s of the Nature Accessible Certificate. All the participants highlighted and appreciated the way the conference was organized – the open and experience exchanged oriented approach. All the participants had possibilities to speak out their opinions or ideas during the World Café discussions. Every participant was involved in the discussion process, which resulted in presentations and collected ideas. We plan to continue this kind of International Forums for new ideas and information exchange.
Jānis Matulis October 03, 2017
3 Supported by:
International Conference on “Sustainable Development Goals: To Raise Public Awareness in building sustainable communities around the Baltic Sea” Baltic Beach Hotel, Jūrmala, Latvia, September 26 – 27, 2017
PROGRAMME Tuesday, September 26 08.00
Registration
09.00
Opening of the conference by: Jānis Matulis, Chairman of LaGM Dr. Tobias Mörschel, Director of FES-Baltic office Mikhail Durkin, Executive Secretary of CCB
09.15 Panel 1 Moderator: 09.30
Welcome speech by Ms. Alda Ozola, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development
Regional identity, public awareness and nature values for promotion off Sustainable Development of the Baltic Sea region Mikhail Durkin (Sweden)
- Mikhail Durkin, CCB Executive secretary – “Regional identity and Nature heritage
of BSR” (Sweden) - Dr. Elmar Römpczyk, Sustainability Expert - "Sustainable Baltic - how to make it a success-story?" (Germany) - Dr. Ingela Isaksson, Regional coordinator marine spatial planning MSP Kattegatt and Skagerrak,County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland, Planning and building department - “Better and stronger together – collaboration across
administrative boarders for a healthier sea” (Sweden) 11.00
Coffee break
11.30
Dialog with…. (participants tbc) moderated by Mikhail Durkin
13.00
Lunch
Panel 2 Moderator: 14.00
Tourism infrastructure solutions – to save the nature, provide accessibility and promote the local economy growth at the Coast of Balticc Sea Dr. Elmar Römpczyk (Germany)
- Dr.-Ing. Frank Weichbrodt, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern „Coastal protection in Mecklenburg-Western
Pomerania – organisation, examples and challenges“ (Germany) - Ingūna Urtāne, Head of Spatial Planning Dpt, Ministry of Environmental protection and Regional Development – “Complex approach for development of public coastal infrastructure - Latvia’ s story” (Latvia) - Svetlana Nigmatulina, Director of Autonomous non-commercial organization “The Development Center of Social and Educational Projects AURA”. – “Inclusive and
accessible tourism in the Baltic coasts and the project “Dream adventure”” (Russia) - Jānis Matulis, LaGM/Apeirons – “Presentation of the Certificate Nature-Accessible”
1 Supported by:
15.30
Coffee break
16.00
World Café discussions, moderated by Dr. Elmar Römpczyk
17.30
Wrap up and conclusions
18.00
Exhibition and mingle
19.00
Reception hosted by Ms. Rita Sproģe, Vice-Mayor of Jūrmala City
Wednesday, September 27
Study visit to Roja community and public beach infrastructure, Cape of Kolka 08.00
Departure from Hotel
10.00
Visiting Roja Public beach, Guided by Eva Kārkliņa, Mayor of Roja Municipality and the “Pine trail” of the Cape of Kolka, guided by Vilnis Skuja, Senior expert of Slītere National Park
13.00
Lunch in Roja Returning to Hotel around 17.00
2 Supported by:
